How to be a successful artist

But writing isn't my job, it's one aspect of my business. So I treat it like a business.

To be successful as an artist there is one thing you have to do: work at it.

A lot of people get in front of a blank screen or a blank canvas and walk away with the screen still blank. They say “the inspiration wasn't there anymore”.

I write every single day. Whether I'm inspired or not. The difference is that I just don't publish every single day.

People who treat art as a business show up and do the work. That's their secret to success. Even if “inspiration” isn't there they show up and they go to work.

Another secret that artists don't like to talk about: you'll create a lot of shit before you create gold. But you work anyway.

The first drafts of my articles are always vastly different than the finished piece. It's not hyperbole to say it takes me weeks to write an article.

The idea simmers in my head for weeks or months. Then I start the writing process which is usually 4 or 5 drafts that are worthless. And then one day it all comes out as a skeleton of an article. But the skeleton needs meat on it so I edit for 8 hours or more.

After weeks of work on one article I can hit the “publish” button.

Art as a business

A lot of writers trying to make a living go about it the wrong way because they think small. They don't think about the back-end, just what they can get right now.

There are a lot of good writers who will never find success writing because their mindset is stuck in the little leagues and they’re wondering how to sell their words to websites or magazines.

My words aren’t for sale and they don’t work to make someone else rich.

My words work for me, they serve a purpose. If they don't serve a purpose they don't get published.

When I write an article I plan for growth. I plan for the article to get bigger over time.

I never plan on a one time avalanche of traffic.

I do the opposite of what newspapers and “gossip” blogs do.

What's the opposite?

Timeless content.

Timeless content lives on long after it has been released.

Make your art work for you

You have to treat your art as a business if you want it to work for you, and not the other way around.

I've hired a professional artist to draw this diagram to illustrate my point:

“Making money is selling out!”

There's nothing wrong with making money from your work.

To make money from art you've got to put that art to work.

If you don't make your art work for you, instead of working to make art, then mom and dad were right. Being an artist is a pipe dream for you.

But art only becomes a pipe dream when you allow it to be a pipe dream.

Stop dreaming, start planning

Plan for a career in the arts and that's what you'll get.

Everything you do should be for a purpose.

A to B in a straight line. Make art, make money, be a professional artist.

Don't forget the back-end

As an artist you spill your guts for everyone to see.

And since you're spilling your guts you should get paid for doing it.

Spill your guts and make some bucks. -Victor Pride

Th 4 C's of artistry

As an artist you will deal with the 4 C's…

Copycats – Bold and Determined has more copycats than the Beatles. The copycats will never “make it”. They'll never get anywhere because they don't have a voice. They're pretending to be me and using my pretend voice. You can't out-Victor Victor Pride. There is only one person you can be – you. To be successful you have to relate to others. The only way you'll relate to others is to express yourself. You won't do it by copying someone else.

Critics – Having critics is great because it means you are somebody. Critics don't critique nobodies. If you get a negative critic (often called a “hater”) it's good news because it means you are provoking an emotional reaction. Make 'em cry or make 'em buy has always been my motto. Be happy you have critics, then ignore them.

Contemporaries – Contemporaries are people who are in the same line of work as you. They are often friends and business partners as well. My contemporaries are Danger and Play and Good Looking Loser.

Competition – The great thing about being an artist is that there is no competition and there never will be. I'm Victor Pride and you're not, so how can you compete with me? You can't. No one can. You can pick up a guitar and play power chords all day and night but you will never be Metallica. You can paint your face and stick out your tongue but you will never be KISS. As an artist you bare your soul, no one can recreate that. It can be copied and imitated but never recreated.

Gut instinct

How many times should I say this, a thousand times?

Everyone will drag you down if you let them.

…so just don't let them.

Your gut instinct is right, their gut instinct about you is wrong. They don't know what you know and they don't believe you can do it.

But they're limited by their own minds, experiences and failures.

Their world-view isn't your world-view.

They don't know what you know. They don't know what's inside your head. They don't know what you're capable of.

Only you know that. So why would you ask them for approval?

I'll say it a thousand more times: You're a nobody until you've accomplished something and nobody will ever believe in you until after you have achieved.

Follow your gut instinct and take it all the way from A to B in a straight line.

Don't be one of those give-up artists. Always going from A to A in a circle, always giving up before you really get started and always moving on to multiple fruitless projects.

Be the man you want to be

A long time ago I wasn’t the man I wanted to be.

I worked jobs that I hated so I could get a tiny, little paycheck.

Then I found real estate investing. I worked hard and I was basically retired by my mid-late twenties. All I did was hang out at home, go to the gym, work sometimes, party on the weekends and have a revolving flow of girls coming in and out of my life.

Great, right?

More like “yeah, right”. You need a purpose in life. I didn't have one. I was living for nothing.

But that was a long time ago. I saw the change needed and I took a leap of faith.

Fast forward several years and I've been living the life I used to dream about living. My life is fantastic.

Living my old life would be a nightmare and I'd sooner die than go back to working for someone else, “surviving” on a paycheck or living alone just so I could put more notches on my belt.

That's such a pathetic way to live life it doesn't even cross my mind now as an alternative.

If everything I have today vanished and I had to start over with nothing this is what I'd do: I'd start all over and I'd do the exact same thing I started doing nearly four years ago. I'd live with purpose. I'd rebuild.

The secret to success is really so simple I feel embarrassed for all the guys who email me daily asking what the secret is.

Great mindset to have. I have had what I consider mild success with my website, but nothing phenomenal. While the information I provide is tried and true, it often feels forced and awkward. Might just be my perfectionism kicking in or it might be real. Either way, I need to practice. Just like I exercise and train every day, I need to start writing every day whether or not I feel like it.

I’m also in the process of writing my own ebook, so practice is even more crucial.

I’ll second this. My admin brought your site to my attention earlier today, Jacob. He mentioned how you did a very nice job on the review of Becoming the Bull. He used you as an example of how to do it properly. But you gotta get rid of that dot wordpress dot com baloney. That’s for amateurs. Self hosted is for pros.

Ok so apparently I need a “self hosting for dummies” book or I just need to outsource the whole process of changing “.wordpress.com” to “.com” to one of my geekier friends. This crap is way over my head.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not lamenting my low levels of success nor am I discouraged. Like you said, building an empire is a process and I am studying my shortcomings and how I can fix them.

I’m not expecting instant success or anything naive like that. My goal is to add value to my website each week…even if it’s just a little. My big push right now is:
1) Sync’ing FB and MACE together to reach a wider audience
2) Working on my eBook
3) Creating top notch material

Do the work, be who you are meant to be, don’t give up! -V.P
Yes, that what you need to do! Me to, I believe, your on the right track!

I’m living a similar “process” .. I feel I’m getting better at it from post to post! I’m developing/discovering my own style by trial & error, by just expressing myself.
Its a evolution and you need to start somewhere… right!

Thank you Victor for these articles.
It’s awesome to see a real man who can share his thoughts about life, lifting and business. Since I started reading you blog a year ago, I have put on some serious muscle, I have started my own business and I feel like a real man. I just want to thank you and tell you to keep doing what you are doing!!
Btw- today is my birthday and waking up to a new post from Bold&Determined is a great gift. Thanks Victor!

Yeah, the things is the reason they know each-other at the first place is probably because they have same interest and similar views … and that would explain why their are some similarities, which is normal and no big deal.

Always motivational Vic. Its all a process. My blog development is a process. You are correct also in saying that we should be original. You can only be you. You have motivated me as you have done with many others. God Bless Vic.

Why are there so few MEN around? Why do I, as almost the only one in my direct environment with life goals, have to read about real men on the internet? That’s ridiculous.

How do you inspire people in a direct conversation to want something out of life? The most just shut down or escape the conversation, like its a painful subject. Can you tell me what’s going on their heads?

Simple. They’ve been indoctrinated all their lives to go to college, get a job, get married, and have 2.5 kids.
If you don’t do this, you’re a failure.
Being a “man” has been defined in today’s society and working a steady job and having a family. No emphasis is placed anymore on the character of said man.
They’re flabby and out of shape? Who cares?
They play video games every second of their free time? It’s their life, don’t judge.
They follow their wife around like a lost puppy dog? That’s the man’s role in a marriage.

If any man dares to break out of the social construct, they’re labeled sexists, meatheads, etc. Puts a lot of pressure on the men to keep their heads low and stay in the shadows.

The best thing you can do is lead by example. Be a shining example of a winner. Don’t bother preaching to the losers. Only spend your breath on those who come to you asking for advice on how to make it.

I visited Jacob’s blog website and I like the topics he will be covering. (MACE
THE MARTIAL ARTIST’S COMPETITIVE EDGE) this sounds unique. I will keep careful watch. He may just become our contemporary. Many blessings and success to you Jacob.

The support I’ve received is humbling. Martial arts has been my passion for 15 years now and even with so much time invested, I never felt quite certified to give out advice.

As much as it’s a resource to others interested in competing and self-defense, it’s also a “F*** you” to my own inner doubts and hesitations. If I’m wrong, then I’m wrong, but the fear of failure and looking like an idiot is no longer going to stop me.

Very nice article, in line with what we talked about in the comments section of your previous post. Treat everything as business, including writing etc.
Since that comment I published my first short story on Kindle (ranked #5 in my genre; it’s free for now, I gotta learn the business somehow. Money will come.), I am halfway through writing two longer stories, began the third, planned a fourth, got my first rejection slip from a famous magazine (and it wasn’t a first tier rejection. The editor actually gave me some personalized pointers), and I am active on the fast lane forum. In addition I invested a chuck of $$$ in stocks, getting out of my comfort zone. I still feel pretty tied, almost useless. I just hope that through hard work something will pop up.

Haha I remember that. Shaq was funny as hell. I liked in that one presser where he kept responding by going, “Bzzzzz”.

Shaq was an interesting dude. He always seemed to be getting into some random adventure like rapping, video games, or being a cop. My friend almost got kicked out of a poker table for arguing with the dealer about Shaq being the best rapper of all time.

This hits home.
Driving to LA, to live in my car and become the greatest actor since Paul Newman.
Failure isn’t an option. If nobody wants me, I’ll bet on myself and make my own films.
Acting isn’t a dream, it’s my life.
Thanks Vic. I’m ready to work, be who I was meant to become, and NEVER FUCKING QUIT.
Good luck to everyone laying the dream-pipes to success.
Y’all look for me in the movies.
SETH

One path is a sure thing, right now. Like porn, it’s the immediate gratification that I know will feel good for a moment; but that feeling is short term and will eventually leave me empty.

The other path is narrower, darker. There is no map and I don’t know what lies between where I am at and where I want to be. It has a far better destination than the other path, but the time on the path and the path itself are unknown to me.

That choice of the two paths is clear.

The choosing of one path over the other is not as clear. Wife, families, financial issues, age, health, all play into the excuses/reasons to choose one path over the other.

One path serves everyone else right now, and me, not so much, ever.

The other path is for me alone now, and everyone later, forever.

So for myself, I have set some short term goals, things I have to do before I make the decision.

For all of you others out there, the majority of you 20-30 years younger than I, (I’m 52), and in relatively the same position for different reasons/circumstances. You have choices to make.

There was only one Ford, until Louis Chevrolet came along and said, “I can do it different/better.”

First there was Da Vinci, then Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet, Matisse, Picasso…

All painters, but different. What if any of them had said, “I cannot paint because someone before me has already been a great painter.”

If you want to blog about travelling the world, being a self-disciplined entrepreneurial bodybuilding blogger with a no-shit, take no prisoners philosophy; it’s been done, and done superbly.

Just like if you want to make cars, don’t make a Model T, or a ’57 Chevy.

If you want to paint, don’t paint Mona Lisa, or the Sistine Chapel.

I like my iPhone, and millions of others like theirs. But somehow Samsung, Sony, and At&T all think they can make a smart phone that people want, too.

Find your own “voice”.

I will blog. I will monetize it. I will have a different voice than Victor Pride, and a different audience with different needs.

Those are some deep word, man, pretty deep. I like the article because there is lots of truth in it. There is no competition – just a diversity of perspectives. Timless content ist the way to go and yeah, I am not always proud of some of the stuff I published years ago. But I think that is normal because it shows that you’re evolving.

If you still like the stuff you have been writing several years ago, you haven’t evolved. Sure, you won’t always say that that piece of work is total crap but you would do it some other way if you would sit down this time. There is always room for improvent, but there is also the danger of perfection. If I would edit every piece of work for several weeks I wouldn’t get any shit done.

Great post Vic! So right about the A to B concept when it comes to a persons art . I find this everywhere in my line of work (cooking) from the line cooks that can’t go beyond flipping damn burgers to the owners that don’t even know how to how to make their own menu haha.
Goal is open my own Catering company within the next two years ( got to acquire lil bit more contacts and currency to purchase equipment & van). Spending my time up to that point under 3 head chefs as there sous and literally writing a notebook a week in notes from these guys.

Critics (most times simply haters) are good to have around. The true critics offer insight into areas you’re weak in and haters are a nice ego boost, because 99% of the time, they feel threatened by you.

I know a couple of people that always talk smack about me when I’m not around. After puzzling about how I did them wrong for such a long time, I finally realized they have insecurity issues and I intimidate them. Now whenever I hear about them talking behind my back, it fills me with the warm fuzzies.

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but haters takes a close second.

I totally agree. And talking crap behind someones back is one of the worst habits some people have. It disgusts me!
Despite that, always remember that at the end of the day, all the haters are great advertisment for you!

I’m technically on vacation this week and didn’t feel like writing a post on my own blog, but this lit the fire under my ass I needed.

Keep doing the lord’s work, man, I can’t overstate the value I get from your work. I finished 30 Days a few weeks ago and for the first time I finally have a clear vision goals and projects and I want to build and monetize. I’ll be starting Body of Spartan next week and and can’t wait for Fall- a 3 month regimen of lifting drillin’ and killin’!

I think one should also try to comprehend one’s nature and figure out what degree of balance are they comfortable in attaining between their artistry and income. Not everyone needs to be super rich to be happy if they are making a decent income with their art.

Personally I’ve set myself a target income that will allow me to do the things I value. Since I’m already happy doing what I love (photography), I know I will never care about being a millionaire. I will try for it, but will not be desperate about it. The challenge for me right now is to establish myself and then start making money so I can give up my day job.

Using money wisely, one can achieve their dreams through artistry much quickly. Most people never start because they are always visualising themselves as multi-milliionaire rockstars. Nothing wrong in that, but that definitely should not be the starting point.

That’s why I love the Four Hour Work Week. Tim is good at explaining the anternative use of money to fulfill your desires in a more efficient and quick manner.

Little Tim is also a millionaire and a guy who can do what his book says precisely because he has multiple income revenues. He can talk about doing nothing precisely because he’s doing a lot of stuff and getting tons of money for it.

I never implied that doing nothing should be the aim. I am all for hard work. And neither did I imply that Tim is not a millionaire.

I’m just saying he advocates practical methods that one can use to spend wisely on things they value. There is nothing wrong in desiring lesser amount of money if you have enough to make you happy. The moment the term less is used, people imagine poverty and deprivation. That’s not what I mean by less. By less I mean comfotable according to your needs.

I know the kind of money I’m aiming for is not a pieice of cake by any imagination but I can foresee it happeing because I really believe I can achieve that. On the other hand, deep down, I cannot believe at this moment that I’m also capable of working so much as to become super rich. I just don’t need to do that. The very fact that I know it’s not what I desperately desire makes the effort required for it seem magnified. So why should I pursue something I don’t value at this moment?

Wish I read this article about 5-6 years ago. I was always working on my craft, perfecting and expanding my artistic skillset (drawing, design, animation), but I had the mindset of “Make art today, make art tomorrow”.

Coming out of high school, I was aiming for the Academy of Fine Arts but didn’t get in. After that, I realized just how much more skill I have than most people and put it to work doing freelance jobs. Still, I was just happy to get paid ANYTHING for my work so it also sucked.

Fast-forward a couple of years later, I work on my own terms. Turns out motivating others through writing is what I’m best at, but I’ll still do occasional design project IF the terms are right.Otherwise I turn the offer down, even if it’s an acquaintance or a family friend, no freeloaders.

1) Pick one who already cooks and cleans.
2) Tell her “working sure is awful. Women who stay at home are always happier. Have a nice day at work”. Plant the seed in her mind, it will grow into an idea she thinks was hers and she’ll bring it up to you. You’ll agree, but not over enthusiastically.

I was talking to another writer just yesterday (Myke Macipinlac) and he also mentioned that he writes every day even if he’s not planning on publishing it. Now that I see Victor recommends it as well I’m definitely gonna start doing it.

I am no Melville, but writing every day is one of the best things I learned to do. Granted that 90% is crap, it does not only help learning the trade, but it is also a great way of keeping a level of discipline that I didn’t have before.
There is no excuse. Even 500 words a day are enough, and in twenty days you have a novella in your hands. Just go for it.

This post was epic!! All your posts are man, hats off to you. I’ve been a writer since I was seven years old (27 now). Started off writing poetry, which I converted into raps. So music has been a passion of mine for a long time now, but wasn’t fond of blogging until I came across your site. I’ve been looking into it & also read your article “So You Want To Be A Professional Blogger”. So I took the leap & created my first website & almost finished writing my first post. Im excited about it & it also feels the same as creating lyrics to a song because they’re my thoughts, views, & perspectives.

Vic your articles always hit hard like a punch straight to the gut and this is no different. Excellent from excellence. The rules to win have always been simple but the fact we read someone who has done them (I.e you) gives inspiration for the days when the world feels like shitting all over you.

I have a theory that heavy thinkers have a much greater degree of analysis paralysis then everyone else. They over think instead of commanding action which is the essence and force of progress. I have to turn off my inner jimmeny cricket once in a while and go with gut checks for goals and progress.

I also liked what you said about creating timeless content. How do you do that? Do you just think, and refine and repeat until you feel that the article percolating in the pit of your stomach is right for publishing to the world?

“I also liked what you said about creating timeless content. How do you do that? Do you just think, and refine and repeat until you feel that the article percolating in the pit of your stomach is right for publishing to the world?”

In a nutshell, I don’t talk about current events, I don’t like words like “today”, I don’t like dates mentioned, and I talk about things than will affect you in the future and have affected you in the past.

I took a little break from my site for awhile for personal reasons and have decided to revamp it and maybe even rework the premise of it completely.

Right now, it’s a motivational site for young men (high school and college aged) but I realized that monetizing this niche may be tougher than other niches I have in mind although it can be done.

I’ve always had a passion for writing and have considered it a talent of mine, but I’m not sure what to focus it on.

Tell me what you think of these ideas (to help make my site unique and stand out):

-Keep the premise I currently have
-Focus it on overcoming social anxiety and depression since it’s something I went through for years (and more and more young adults these days are experiencing problems with this)
-Focus it on organization and using that to better people’s productivity and chances of success (something else I’m good at)

It’s great to be able to wear pants and now sweat everywhere. I’m probably 20 lbs lighter on my about page. Gym pumps make all the difference. Without one I look like a normal guy, with one I look huge.

Dude where did you come from?! Its like you are literally sitting down with me, having known me my whole life, and giving me the advice I have been searching for for longer than I wish to belive. Just when I felt hopeless and deleting I found a guiding light. Hows that for poetry?

Hope you can feel the gratitude through the universe. BTW, started Krav Maga after being a pussy homo my whole life. I am learning how to crush and thrash!

This right here is truth and should be in caps and bolded. In an online world where everybody’s tryna leach off each others content, B&D puts in the work to add actual value. That’s why I return. “What value does this add?” should be the question every artist should ask before beginning anything.

Also like what you say about the hours and weeks put into honing your craft. People want the quick fix, ‘how can I do what he does. Now!’ solution. And that’s it right there. The quick fix, the one most likely to work, is years of drafts and unpublished posts that trim away at your sucking.

Still off, no. In the pic in this article I had been off for 10 weeks.

Did you lose a lot of strength? No.
Any significant change in libido? Yes, I had no libido. Didn’t care one bit for sex.
Any side effects showed up (gyno etc.)? No.
Did you use Proviron or anything like that to protect yourself from estrogen? No.

That’s interesting. Could I ask you if this decrease in libido stay for long? Did you do anything about it? It’s certainly not permanent, I’m just wondering how long it might take before things get back on the right track.

Great read. You only have one life, why not be great? It’s a nice get-a-way to read about motivated individuals that want more than the average person. I never considered myself to be the most intelligent, athletic etc. person in the world but I posses something that is much greater than all of that and it is will. I set high expectations for myself and I have the want/ the need to be great. I understand that I have to put in the work and this has led to great successes for me. I don’t want to just go through life like everyone else, I want to thrive and create a dynasty of wealth for myself and the generations after. I keep my goals to myself and I am always in control. Grit coupled with positivity allows me to be a forward thinker that gets shit done. I know this is a bit of a rant but I get fired up from these articles and I always take something and apply it to my everyday life. Thanks Vic and every other person on this site that wants to be different from everyone and contribute to this society and make the world a better place.

I have to say that this post has made me realize something that I always had in the back of my mind. That is in order to become good at anything in life we have to work at it! Its does not not matter if you are an artist or an engineer you have to start at the bottom and build from there

At first it will be rough to the touch but as time progresses forward and you continue to polish the rough edges and applying a nice coat of paint, you will look back and be amazed at what you have built.

Most people just like you said want instant gratification! They want to be successful now and not go through the stress that the majority of entrepreneurs go through when going from A to B. Its easier for them to just spin around in a circle as they do not need to sacrifice or make themselves uncomfortable.

I was a nobody when i was in my twenties. Working for $7.00 bucks an hour putting in more than 60 hours a week and still I was not doing nothing to get ahead! I did this for quite a few years until I was fired from that bullshit retail job. It was a blessing because at that moment i decided to do something new and went to a trade school and busted my ass in learning Computer Networking.

When I first started I did not know jack shit about computers! I failed the tests and barely past my classes! But i still went while everyone else told me that I should quit and go sign up for a Business Major! I still went to class everyday and put in a lot of time and I slowly got better!

I got my hands dirty and began to build a new career! I know Vic talks about being your own man but at that time there was not any blogs like this one that are helping young and old men become better.

So I went the normal route most people take!

Like i said I knew Jack Shit about computers but I worked on learning it as time continued. Building laptops and Desktops, troubleshooting everything that came my way! Each new corporation allowed me to learn more about computers and how their networks operate.

Polishing the rough edges!

The money got better as I steadily climbed up the ladder!

Now i do not have to get my hands dirty anymore! Now I can tell those under me to do it while I teach them how to better their careers in computers. Why because I believe every man should help his fellow man learn to fish so that he can feed himself in the future!

Now that I feel that I have reached my pinnacle in this career its still not enough for me as I want more! At 43 most men my age are content with what they have or their lot in life. Not me I want more!

And now I found a new thing I’m interested in but never pursued! I decided to go out and start a new venture and maybe in time I could make some money out of it!

That new venture is blogging!

I know for me I enjoy to blog but I still feel that I need a long way to go and be able to write great and timeless posts like this very one. So i have to continue to learn from people like Victor and be able to write at his level. Not copy his stuff but be someone who could put pencil and paper and write a master piece!

I know the path won’t be easy! Even Victor at one time commented negatively on my blog. It really disappointed me when i saw that! I almost gave up this whole thing but then i realized he was not doing this because he was a bad guy, he was doing it because he wanted me to do better!

Like a Drill Sargent teaching his recruit on how to be a proper soldier like in my military days. No Vic was teaching me to be a better blogger so I continued my building process and its continuing to this day!

Thanks Vic for that! :)

In the end the only thing that will make you an expert in anything is by starting out at the bottom and working your way up slowly. There is no quick way and no such thing as a overnight success. It takes work, sweat and a thick skin to progress in life and become someone and living the life you want to live!

Victor dont you miss getting noticed by everyone due to your bulky size when you enter a room and now you dont have that physical presence? do you still lift weights or just doing bodyweight for now? I know you look normal or slim and that must suck big time plus no sex drive? how do you do it? it sounds like you changed your mindset…..

You write good stuff Vic. Looking through your archives, I noticed a huge difference in your writing between the stuff you wrote in 2010/11 and the newer stuff from 2012/13/14. Your writing improved in leaps and bounds. I think you would enjoy an article I wrote on my site http://www.tech-mouth.com, it’s called the “13 secrets to success (That Will Help You Conquer The World). If you have time check it out. I would appreciate any feed back you can give me. Thanks man, take care.

Solid article as usual. I have started a website and am selling an e-book for a measly $5 on overcoming mild/moderate depression based on my own experience, if anyone is interested feel free to check it out. I’ve sold around 20 copies.

Some of my articles and ideas are similar to yours Victor, but I know I’m unique in how I express myself. I don’t see myself as a copycat. I’ve received compliments but people seem to be disappointed with the frequency of my posts.

I will tell you. Realize other people aren’t gods and aren’t superior. Become more careless and stop giving so much shit. It doesn’t matter what other idiots say or think. Then, take action whether it’s talking to the curtest girl you see on the street or asking strongest guy in the gym for advice on training. It’s that simple. There are no special techniques requiring articles on them, there are actions that need to be taken! Now! …You will never be fully prepared!

If you really need to read something, then James Newman “Release your breaks” is the book.

Hey Victor.
I stumbled upon your site when I found your “How to Deal With Depression the Old Fashioned Way”, back in the days when I was just as emasculated and blind to the butt-fucking I was ignorantly accepting from life and my peers as every other American sucker. I can wholeheartedly say that it was one of the most fruitful and beneficial finds of my young life (I’m 16). Because of that article, I quit being a little bitch and started my journey of becoming a man.
I have a question for you, so I’ll try and keep my comment short since I really would appreciate an answer.
I don’t have aspirations to become a wealthy entrepreneur living life on my own terms, I crave it. I obsess over it each and every day while my classmates are busy getting high and wasted. During class, I’m reading either your blog or “Think and Grow Rich”, which I received from my Uncle a good 5 or so years ago. I relate to you so well because you’re a spitting image of my Uncle, it’s uncanny and it’s amazing for me. My Uncle is a successful entrepreneur who happens to own his own chiropractic business, and not only is he just a badass at life and a go-getter, he has a charisma to him that makes everyone love him. He gains respect from so many men, all the while living life on his own terms. Every time I visit him, I’m constantly envying him because he sleeps in as late as he wants, talks to people with a definitness of purpose (and quite frankly, he says whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and people love him for it. It’s nothing short of amazing, really). He demands success and dominance over life, and he gets it. It reminds me of that quote that’s starts out with “I bargained with life for a penny, and life would pay no more”. Every time I’m in his presence, I’m always keen to write down all that he says to me and ask as many questions as possible.
I’m quite aware that there is no such thing as something for nothing, and that one must work as hard as he possibly can while making no excuses to get what he truly wants in life. (I own both 30 Days of Discipline and Body of a Spartan by the way, which I apply to my life each and every day. Those books are excellent, so good job on them).
My main question is this: You deal with the things in your life that you can control, but what about the things you can’t?
With only two or so years left before I have to move out on my own, I can’t help but feel extremely saddened and hopeless when thinking about how far America has sunk since it’s heyday. I’ve always known that America was in bad shape in terms of global power, authority, debt, and now even the citizens. My generation is ridiculous. Feminism, rape culture, female “empowerment”, left sided news and politics, emasculated men, gender role reversal, absolutely anything and everything that our generation can “become a part of” and “defend” to fill the void in them that they have because they are all aimless, directionless, and passionless makes me horribly sick. Even my English teacher (an extremely fat, like 500 pounds fat, feminist pig) spreads horrible ideas to my fellow classmates, who (luckily) probably don’t really care what she’s saying because they don’t care about school anyways, but nonetheless, the plague of feminism is infecting even high school now. I was reading “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and couldn’t help but envision Napoleon Hill turning in his grave right now not only at the state of society, but even more so at the state of the US, which he so earnestly and humbly regarded as the best nation in the world. I have a hard time knowing that I (a white, American male) will never know what it was like to live in Capitalist America (before it started turning Socialist) in its heyday. I seriously wish that I was born 70-80 years sooner, so I could be proud of the country I came from.
What’s the best place where I can live a peaceful and honest life and avoid the external and internal strife that America will face in its downfall within the next 10-20 years?
I just want a place where I can successfully kick ass in life, find a nice, down to earth woman as opposed to the bitchy sluts who dominate where I live right now, and live in content and peace with the wealth that I will undoubtedly acquire in my future entrepreneurial endeavors.
That ended up being a little longer than I intended, but nonetheless, I’d much appreciate an answer.
Keep up your fantastic blog, and keep kicking ass in life. You’re an inspiration to many men, and best of luck to you and your future endeavors. I plan on writing a book eventually, covering topics such as America and our society today, while giving advice to young men such as myself on how they can change their mindset and at least open their eyes to the world around them, and when that day comes, I’ll make sure to let you know. Have a good day.

*Whoops, didn’t mean to say rape culture. It actually makes me sick to see all of these women using rape as an excuse on many young men just to put the guy away and get the benefit of the doubt from our shit government. American women are some of the worst women you can associate yourself with as you’ve said before. What is considered “sexual assault” these days is absolutely ridiculous (most of it anyways).

Victor, How did you make money on real estate?
I am looking ways for earn money! I would like to be financial freedom around 30’s. Btw im turning 18 soon.
Anyway, this blog is absolutely brilliant! Keep it up!

Victor I love the fact that you push lifting weights and getting fit but let me tell you this hobby is expensive here in the states. The working out is easy but what you do after is not especially if you want to be big and muscular. Hormones, food, and supplements are not cheap. Let’s say we eliminate supplements like you say then we have food and hormones. Hormones are not cheap. Food well you have to eat regardless but eating 4 to 6 meals a day is expensive and time consuming. You also have the whole organic vs gmo food which it should be a concern because is nice to be fit and disease free. When it comes to eating organic at least we definitely should consider organic meats and dairy out of the whole food group. Despite cosco,bjs, walmart food costs keep increasing. Let’s not forget housing and taxes which are the biggest expenses in America. Keeping this blog’s goal in mind which I love about being a spartan how can you be frugal and big when it comes to food eating so frequently? Any tips…I’m asking because living a spartan lifestyle financially is the way to go especially if you are building a business to become financially free and escape the rat race. Thanks…

Jose, I avoid commenting on posts addressed to Victor, but this IS a public forum so I am free to do so.

Yes, food is expensive, and getting more so. In 2nd and 3rd world countries, food is 50% and more of a family budget. Here in America it is about 8%.

I have fed a family of 9 on $250 a week. No small feat with 6 teenage boys, 4 of them over 6′ tall, and 3 of them over 200lbs, and one over 300lbs.

Forgive me. I digress. 90% of my diet is from the outside of the store. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat. I also eat nuts and oatmeal.

This, actually, is far cheaper than 2 doctor visits a year and 5 sick days a year. I have eliminated all medications save one (a blood thinner), 5-7 fast food meals a week eaten out, and maybe a dozen snacks a week out from gas stations, etc.

Living Spartan and eating healthy now means I am achieving a baseline for energy and will spend about 2 years building a foundation with weight training.

After laying the foundation with weight training I will decide how much time, effort, and money I want to spend on strength and/or body building, including supplements and HGH.

No alcohol. No tobacco. No drugs. No cable TV. 2gig cell phone plan. No bullshit hobbies. I AM my hobby.

That’s inspirational Grey. A family of 9 for $250/week?! Holy cow! Do you eat any cheap bulk staples regularly like white rice or is it mainly produce and fresh meat?

Our family is in a pretty similar setup to you. I now drink very little alcohol, maybe a couple beers a week tops, no tobacco/drugs, and we have Netflix & Hulu+ which is WAY cheaper than the cable plans. I’d say the biggest difference if we have nice smartphones with something like a 10 gig plan.

Great read Vic. Regarding living alone… I’ll tell you right now though Vic, you’d probably prefer to live alone than with the majority of North American women (I’m in Canada, but up here they’re the exact friggin same as you describe them as being in the US). Believe me, they haven’t changed at all in the 4 years since you’ve moved abroad, and living with a woman just for the sake of not being alone isn’t worth it… she has to bring something to the table (not talking about just sex either).

it pisses me off, Im 22 and it seems like every girl is an arrogant man-wannabe feminist cuntbag, a mentally-ill crazy bitch and a dirty slut… and that’s when she’s not a fucking lesbian. My own sister came out of the closet recently, I’m so disgust, what a shame.

”I Dont take any shit from anybody”,.I had this mentallity(life is better that way) and i was kicking ass then but now ive kinda lost my way and just getting back on track.how can i live without remorse again?

Not busy worrying about girls,impressing people..i want the fire for success again
Anyone else can also answer/help

Hey Vic,
I’m glad to see that you been quite active lately.
Really interesting article, I like the art vision you explained on this article, I used to think that being an entrepreneur is a form of art and should be considered as a major art, mainly because entrepreneurs are the ones keeping “art” alive… anyway.
Just one thing and I want you clarify that point for me please, I noticed that you always mention that you spend weeks working on 1 article… with your experience, your writing skills and your 2 assistants I find it hard to believe.. if you spend weeks on 1 article is it because you plan things ahead so you know you have time or is it because it really takes you weeks to write it, review and edit?
Except that good work as usual, and wish you the best.
Jeff Reech.

I explained in this article exactly why it takes weeks and exactly how I write an article. Having 2 assistants or 10 assistants is completely irrelevant to the time it takes to write an article. I write, they don’t.

I just saw your instagram. Man, seeing how your life looks like is very inspirational. Pictures say more than hundreds of words. Do not underestimate power of it as a marketing tool!

Are you planning to write anything new on training anytime soon? I’m bored with my current program and looking for some updates I can make. Though, you’re the only person advices of I’m looking for. Since I’m on meat (mainly steak) and eggs diet my body reached new level!

I got one question. I trust you Victor because I never got disappointed with your recommendations. Would you mind sharing what shoes you wear? I’m looking for something durable but not like safety boots and I bet, as you travel a lot etc., you know what kind of footwear is good. What do you wear on your feet Vic?

Making it happen. That is what Victor did. By any means necessary. By taking a plane to South East Asia. By putting the time in to make something WORK. By defying the mind numbing “logic” of working till 65 and then you are “free” or something like that. If you even make it to that age that is. Or die a year later after you hit the magical “age.” He made it happen, Like the guy who refuses to give up on the woman he truly wants. Like the guy who stays at the gym while others are long gone. Like the baseball player taking extra hacks long after practice is over.

I am not “there” yet. But I can tell you I am MUCH happier deciding to dump a “job” and literally down to just 20 hours a week at the boring job( which I am more productive at than ever because I know it will be totally behind me soon) as I make money off the net now.Next is to cut down to 15 hours per week with the slave master. And it will happen. Why? Because like Victor I am FORCING it to happen. FORCING myself to make money off the net as well. Why the heck should a person not LOVE Monday like they love Friday night and Saturday? Like in the article he wrote” Thank GOD It’s Monday.” Indeed. IT is totally not normal to hate most of the week. Sick actually. And people pay the price for that. I actually get an endorphin high when I drive the opposite way of most traffic. I LOVE that!

I used to be one of these guys literally jealous of farmers. Used to daydream of being a farmer and wished I lived in the 1920’s or something. I thought. man, great to just work on MY land and get MY stuff together for myself and family with ME being the boss man not getting on some sick train with people who looked like they died five times over and then having to do 8-9 hours at the pig pit. That is truly a horrible way to live and an instant recipe for depression, drinking and drugging and NO working out.

Victor Pride opens up a world to people. Don’t like where you live or too expensive? Move. That simple. Don’t say you can’t. If you say that then you made a CHOICE to stay, He got on a plane to Asia by himself and went!! Most people get nervous leaving their neighborhood! Thus, suffer those consequences. Nothing more pathetic than seeing grown people going through their little lottery tickets hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.. Don’t worry,you won’t.

You get no pats on the back for your “job.” Nobody cares you worked hard. You do. That is all. And if you are lucky a boss will see it and reward you with too little of a raise. If you work in a gov’t job you will be rewarded with SQUAT. That is especially true if you are not political or if you are a white male.

It is horrible to live in fear because you need the bucks. Laughing at stupid jokes of the boss man as you dream of leaving. You are given nothing. We have the freedom STILL to make it on our own just like the US Declaration of Independence says. The PURSUIT of Life, Liberty and Happiness. Not the guarantee of. That is up to EACH individual to do it for him or herself! Your little raise at your 40-50 hour hell job sure ain’t gonna cover it for you. Thank GOD IT’s Monday. A pursuit EVERY person should go after with their whole heart!!

Many of my friends married young and had kids. Now, they are really stuck. When I call them, they have to ask wives’ permission to speak longer on the phone. One of my married friend even said,” I am so luck, my wife let me keep one of my old habit”.
—————-http://aaronsleazy.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-broken-man.html
read this
Sad Fact

Get married first, and build a family next. Then speak of asking ‘permissions’. A girl for an enjoyable fuck can be treated like a dog. A girl who is your wife and a mother to your kid should be treated appropriately. This is not about asking permissions. This is about being responsible and mature, being a man. On the other hand, if one does not want any family and kids and likes spending his life with friends at the bar, cinema, billiard table, lake fishing, etc. he should not get married and build a family. Thus, he will never has to ask for his woman of anything.

It is agreed here that wasting time with friends is undesirable. Better one should get friends for business. Why should I be willing to waste my time with some chatterbox to the damage of my family and relations that do matter? No question arise from my wife if I have to be absent for some serious thing. Her questions would be reasonable if I spend my time with some idlers sucking beer or tits. Again, as long as one wish to remain free of any obligation and duty, he should restrain from marriage and it will be irresponsible and immature of him to create a family at this stage. Boys are boys and fathers are fathers.

Authority is not embedded in a woman. It is delegated to her by her man. If one does not share and distribute his power, then his own authority is zero (=pretends to have authority) or he is afraid of losing his authority (=demonstrates his weakness) and takes the role of a dictator (=to set off his obvious weakness). Many things in the house depend on the woman, but the woman depends on the man. Female behaviours and attitudes to a great extent stem from male behaviours and attitudes. If you behave like a small penis and treat your wife like a dog, do not wonder when your wife starts to kick back.

Finally, men should demonstrate their strength outside of the family – to the boss, business partners, other men or bustards in the street. If one has to prove his strength at home, well that paints a sorry picture.

Sorry, guys. Some more word. If a man has to show strength at home, this means he has failed to demonstrate strength outside of his family. He is a loser trying to show himself a winner at the expense of his family members.

This blog is for the winners. It is pity to see losers weep and believe it is their wife (mom, boss, secret Jewish olygopoly, Adam and Eve) is behind their poor condition. Take the resposnibility. Be the man. You are a loser because you have lived like a loser. A situation when one seeks to achieve success by ascribing his failures to someone else’s fault is moving from A to A in a circle.

I am lucky that I have a traditional wife and a traditional marriage. I ask permission for nothing.

I am an indentured servant until October 2, 2019. I pay $1621 a month for my divorce. That’s a pretty big chunk from my $5100 a month gross income.

I have to cover that $1621 a month before I can start at zero, if you get what I mean.

I commented in a couple of other blogs recently that had posts about how to deal with crazy women and drama.

This is how I dealt with it in 2007. The crazy ex-wife flipped out, i mean loony-bin level flipped out, and I left the bitch.

It’s amazing. I live better than I used to, on two thirds of what I used to have to work with.

When you marry a woman she will make or break you. Period.

I have told all 6 of my boys: marry before you’re 30 and you will deserve everything that happens to you, and I will spend the rest of my life telling you “I told you so, DUMBASS!!”

No, I don’t need permission. I just have a few more issues to resolve than a single, twentysomething still on the front end of life.

I don’t like where I’m at now, but I’m changing where I’m going to end up.

And all the shit I’ve gone through the last 30 years is only going to add up to more experience to blog about and help someone else avoid my mistakes, or get through them if they’ve already made the mistakes.

I’ve never posted on a blog site before. But I really wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your advice on how to be successful/follow your dreams/live a thriving life. It really has helped me change my own mind. And I can already see things turning in the directions I want them to go. Because I’ve changed how I think and my habits. There’s something about what you say that really hits the core. I would definitely compare it to having an ice bucket dumped on your head. Like waking up and seeing the world in a new way. I’m not trying to build a website or get rich online (at the moment). I just enjoy your words of wisdom from time to time (minus the masculine things that don’t apply). Keep waking the dead.

-afemalesupporter

P.S. I hate saying this but I thought I would address it because I am a female. Your “controversial blogs” although some things were hard to swallow, they have some merit to them.

I can’t tell you how awesome it is that I just read this post of yours Vic…..I won’t go into details now…but basically I let the haters and the non-believers and the ants finally get to me a few months ago……and i stopped recovering from rocky rock bottom, stopped my awesome blogging….and let the haters wear me down into thinking i had to get a normail job, be normal, responsible etc…..whatever all that crap actually means… all i know is, I now at least know what a zombie must go thru…living life half ndead. Poor Bastard zombies….
Anyway. I’m bringing it AALLLLLLLL BACk….Somehow i will retrieve my brilliantly written deleted Blogs.
THE RESURRECTED TRADER IS BACK!!!!! Stay tuned. Watch out you Haters!!!!

Victor I just saw your pics on instagram. One word, inspirational…you are back on top as far as being jacked and big..I wanted to ask you what are your thoughts on pursuing and getting a career? I know that you are against having a job but what about a career. Here in America it’s all about getting a career. Americans use careers to define themselves…Any thoughts?

Vic just so you know your site is showing up as a possible malware site right now when viewed from the US.

I got the red screen from Google warning not to proceed to the site. When I clicked on further information it reported no malware at the site. It said you can use Webmaster Tools to have them review your site and clear the warning.

hey vic, logged in to your site via chrome on my macbook pro today and it came up with a huge red screen saying your site hosts malware. obviously this is BS but just wanted to give you the heads up. i had to bypass a bunch of settings to view your site again

Hey Vic, I started a Dorm Cleaning Service here in the States and have been seeing tons of comments on your “Start your own Site” website. From what I’ve seen, the website is set up to be more like a blog and I was wondering if the guys that design sites for you and your clients would be willing to help me design a site for my business to run off of?
Thanks,
Storm

Hey Vic very solid advice! As a new blogger, there’s always a huge temptation to copy someone else. The foundation you have provided from your articles is extremely beneficial. The trick is to incorporate that foundation into your own work.
Thank You
Rob

Fantastic article. Absolutely bang on about art needing to be a business, else what’s the point? The Beatles were artists and they certainly made a few quid. I write scripts, as yet uncommissioned, but I’m making inroads through networking and putting the time in. I still consider myself an ‘artist’ but I want to earn from it. That’s not morally wrong. What’s wrong is feeling embarrassed for wanting money for your efforts.

As an artist, I see this as some pretty damn good advice. I lived for a long time with the “I’m not a sellout!” point of view about my art. I realized over the years that my art has value, not only for me but for others and that value is worth money. And it definitely takes hard work and lots of shit was created before I created a few pieces of gold.

This is so fucking important. There are so many people who talk the talk, saying they want to buckle down, do the work, and achieve their goals. So few of us ever do the things in life we want to do. It’s just a matter of realizing that you have to drop whatever bullshit you’re most concerned with right now, decide that the things you REALLY want to do are what’s most important, and then do them. If they’re really that important to you, if you’re really set on achieving that one thing that makes your life worthwhile, then doing the work every single day won’t seem like work to you. It’ll seem like another step towards becoming the man you know you can be.

I can see how this applies easily to things like blogging and writing articles, but my “art” is music and playing in bands. I know you are a musician, do you ever apply this to your music? Can one really make money as a musician, save for the 0.001% chance of becoming a famous rock star?

As a musician, put your music in a lot of places. If you want to make money off of it, offer it on iTunes or BandCamp.. Put it on YouTube and SoundCloud. Put all of your music up. I’ve known artists who make thousands of of single songs. Artists stick to DeviantArt (or similar sites), and get paid in commissions from people who can’t draw, or just want their character in someone’s style.

The internet is making it possible for people to make money off of their hobbies, with zero requirement to hit the big stage, if they wanted to.

If you want a little motivation from the music world, look into DeStorm, regardless of whether or not you like rap.

Ey Vic how are you? the last weak i found your blog, is so fu cking amazing, i love it.
i have a personality like you, and i like writing and read, i have my own blog , (sorry for my english,i work on that) my blog is the same tematic like you, only me has more “spiritual” … and i like if you visit my web and drop me a “comment” about that.
Bye Vic Good Luck.

As always, an amazing article. You are the only blogger or one of the VERY FEW, who puts thought in every article you create, other blogs become a drag after a while. Thanks and I hope you keep doing this.

Thank You so much Victor Pride! Your article came right on time, as if you knew what I’m currently going through as an artist. Your words tripped me out, because it’s like you were speaking directly to me. You have helped me to see the light of my capabilities and potential despite of what others see, say and think about my artwork. Thank you for awesome advice and most encouraging words.
YOU ROCK!

Thank god I read this post and it’s something that I needed to read since I’m writing my very first action novel. The idea of writing was lingering in mind since my junior year in high school. Now I’m 24 I won’t let this summer go without writing.

[…] Mind mapping is as simple as making the spider webs you used in grade school for writing essays, except more fun! I use a variety of colors when I mind map, and I tend to use paper more than other mediums or software. A lot of people use whiteboards, or even smartboards in a corporate setting. But why couldn’t you just as easily use colored chalk and your driveway if you wanted to? You can! That’s the beauty of it. Whatever medium interests you, use it. It doesn’t have to be the same one every time; find whatever is sparking something new in your brain and run with that. If that’s poster board one day, and a mind mapping software the next, who cares. This is for you, your development, and ultimately, your art. Remember that whatever you do, whatever you’re working on, can be art. […]